ILO Employment Opportunity
National Project Coordinator (No. B)
Reference: NPC/EED/KEN
Project title: Youth Entrepreneurship Facility - Unleashing African Entrepreneurship
Project duration: 60 months
Duty station: Nairobi, Kenya
Duration of post: 12 months (with the possibility of extension)
Title of position: National Project Coordinator/Expert in Entrepreneurship Development
Starting date: 15 March 2010
Background
The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Youth Employment Network (YEN) will be executing the "Youth Entrepreneurship Facility - Unleashing African Entrepreneurship" programme in the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 2010 through 2014.
This is a regional programme to promote youth entrepreneurship in East Africa, which is being funded by the Africa Commission established by the Government of Denmark.
The Facility aims to spread a culture of entrepreneurship across East Africa to ensure that the largest number of youth ever to come onto labour markets will have opportunities as well as the abilities to lift themselves out of poverty and contribute to national development, economic growth and employment creation.
The programme intervention areas are enterprise culture, entrepreneurship education, business development services (BDS), access to finance, competitive grants scheme for youth organizations and evidence based advocacy through impact evaluation.
The programme is supporting the implementation of the Regional Decent Work Programme (RDWP) developed by the East Africa Community as well as the Decent Work Country Programmes (DWCP) developed by ILO constituents in Kenya.
The ILO is recruiting a highly motivated and committed national professional with demonstrated and recognised skills and expertise in entrepreneurship and youth development to work as National Project Coordinator (NPC) for the programme in Kenya.
Under the supervision and guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor of the Facility, the NPC's key task will be the effective coordination of daily programme activities in Kenya in collaboration with other national as well as international staff.
Description of the position and specific duties
Description of position
The NPC will report to the Chief Technical Advisor of the Youth Entrepreneurship Facility and will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
She or he will be coordinating the daily activities in the areas of entrepreneurship culture, entrepreneurship education, youth access to business development and financial services.
The NPC will be the daily Task Manager for these technical areas and collaborate with a national and international team of experts and administrative support staff.
The NPC will also be coordinating the development of training and education materials, new and innovative training methodologies suitable for youth entrepreneurship as well as apply and monitor the application of these across national education and training institutes.
This involves facilitation of and training in capacity building workshops as well as coordination of existing partnerships and identification of new partnerships with national ministries, private sector and business member organisations, social partners, financial institutions as well as civil society organisations, including youth organisations.
Specific Duties
* Ensure effective implementation of the project and work plan through timely provision of inputs, effective backstopping, timely and efficient delivery of outputs; and monitoring, reporting, and evaluation of the project activities in conformity with ILO policies and programme strategies as laid down in the project document, and in accordance with ILO programming guidelines, and administrative and financial procedures.
* Liaise with all relevant stakeholders to ensure achievement of the objectives of the project; provide leadership and strategic thinking to ensure that project activities focus on critical areas.
* Review and analyse specific national development plans and priorities, socioeconomic data, reports and other relevant information related to youth employment and youth entrepreneurship development in Kenya
* Build the capacity of national implementing partners and support them in the development of programme activities in the technical areas of entrepreneurship culture promotion, entrepreneurship education, business development services and access to finance
* Assemble and edit basic data required for planning and negotiation of programme activities with national implementing partners considering different approaches and alternative and innovative methods for implementation to effectively reach young women and men
* Provide technical support to implementing agencies in executing action programmes at national level in the field of policy and research and link the project implementation with ILO work at the bilateral level.
* Monitor progress of the activities of programmes activities with national partners by reviewing, verifying and analyzing work plans, progress reports, final reports and other data for clarity, consistency and completeness
* Contribute creative ideas for further programme development and draft portions of programme and budget proposals, project proposals, programme background, strategy papers, objectives, project reviews and evaluation
* Participate in the preparation, facilitation and interpretation of conferences, seminars, workshops, training sessions, consultative meetings, including with ILO constituents, and various types of capacity building events, and speak on behalf of the ILO when attending these gatherings alone
* Identify problems, propose solutions and actions, and follow-up with the CTA as well as with technical backstopping departments at headquarters and ILO offices in Addis Ababa, Pretoria and Tanzania, ILO constituents, implementing partners, government offices, and other organizations to expedite implementation and meet targets
* Provide programming and administrative support and ensure synergies are created with other ILO programmes and projects in Kenya in the areas of youth entrepreneurship and enterprise development, as well as to the UN Joint programming process and the collaborating UN partner agencies in youth employment and entrepreneurship
* Prepare background information, programme briefs, periodical reports, gender analysis and related technical reports and statistical data on status of programme activities and assist in the development and maintenance of the Facility's computerized management information system for use in monitoring and reporting on activities and performance of the programme
* Assist in the programming and control of resources from all sources of funds, prepare budget estimates and expenditure forecasts by analyzing and monitoring situation of resources as compared to planned activities and making recommendations to CTA for remedial action
* Handle fellowship programmes and brief ILO specialists, project experts, associate experts and visiting officials and provide relevant information on programme matters
* Undertake missions to project sites independently or accompanying other ILO officials and members of the programme team
* Supervise the work of support staff
* Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Technical Advisor and the ILO office Director
Education
* Advanced university degree in business management and administration, entrepreneurship, economics or related social science discipline
Experience
* At least five years of professional experience in the relevant occupational area.
Languages
* Excellent command of Swahili and English
Competencies
* Good knowledge of programme and budget, project formulation, administration and evaluation techniques and practices;
* good knowledge of the role and operations of UN system activities for development;
* clear understanding of gender mainstreaming and demonstrated capacity to integrate gender into youth entrepreneurship development;
* knowledge of the office's financial rules and regulations;
* knowledge of office-wide activities and priorities;
* ability to perform a variety of conceptual analyses required for the formulation, administration and evaluation of projects;
* excellent drafting skills;
* ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
* excellent analytical skills;
* ability to justify requirements and approaches to problem resolution, and ability to negotiate;
* good computer applications skills;
* good organizational skills; ability to work on own initiative as well as a member of a team;
* ability to deal with people with tact and diplomacy;
* ability to motivate and supervise staff.
Interview and written examination
* Only short listed candidates will be interviewed and may also be required to do a written examination.
Applications
Applicants should send their curriculum vitae/resume to the email address below.
Applications must include precise information on education, work experience (name of organization, starting and ending dates, work performed, name of supervisor and contact), and other relevant experience and skills.
Applicants are encouraged to give three references.
Applications from women are encouraged.
The closing date for submitting applications for this position is 01 February 2010 at 16.00 hrs.
No candidatures will be accepted after the closing date.
Applications should be sent to the following email address mentioning the vacancy announcement reference: Email: npcken @ ilo.org
Sunday, January 17, 2010
International Labour Organization (ILO) Employment Opportunity: National Project Coordinator
